We enter into May with anxiety and anticipation. As the global pandemic continues, no one knows how the next few months will play out. The so-called medical experts seemingly offer different takes on the coronavirus every day. But the first weekend of the month gives us opportunities to hope and pray for the world.

On Friday, May 1, the Church traditionally celebrates the feast of St. Joseph the Worker. And, boy, if ever there was a time to pray to the foster father of Jesus, it is now. Pray for everyone involved in the spiritual and physical care of patients, for those who continue to labor in various capacities, and for men, women and families impacted by furloughs or layoffs and those who have had to shutter small businesses. The Catholic Foundation’s emergency grant program has proved to be a blessing to many families during the crisis. Read more about the fund in this edition of The Catholic Times and ways to contribute.

Also on May 1, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the Canadian bishops have decided to re-consecrate their respective countries to Mary, the Mother of God for strength in the struggle against COVID-19. Every May, the Church entrusts its prayers to Mary for her intercession, but “this year, we seek the assistance of Our Lady all the more earnestly as we face together the effects of the global pandemic,” said Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez, president of the USCCB.

Bishop Robert Brennan encouraged the faithful in the Diocese of Columbus to participate in the re-consecration at 3 p.m. Friday. Details can be found on the diocesan website.

Sunday, May 3 is designated as the annual World Day of Prayer for Vocations. The USCCB notes that “the Church concentrates its attention this day on vocations to the ordained ministries (priesthood and diaconate), to the religious life in all forms (male and female, contemplative and apostolic), to societies of apostolic life, to secular institutes in their diversity of series and membership, and to the missionary life.”

We are all called in a special way to pray for vocations to religious life and to encourage anyone who might be a good candidate to consider that the Lord might be calling him or her. It’s a blessing that the diocese has men and women entering consecrated life, but we need more.

The Diocese of Columbus has three men who are to be ordained to the holy priesthood this year. One seminarian was ordained to the diaconate in April, and another was scheduled to follow in May, but the ceremony was pushed back as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. This past week, the USCCB released statistics from a survey provided by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) that included responses from 77 percent of the 448 men who will be ordained to the priesthood (82 percent diocesan) throughout the United States in 2020.

Among the findings:

The average age is 34 years old, 73 percent served as altar boys before entering the seminary, 72 percent participated in Eucharistic Adoration on a regular basis, 70 percent prayed the rosary, between 38 percent and 44 percent attended a Catholic school and 38 percent participated in high school retreats.

Most significant, 89 percent said they were encouraged to consider the priesthood by a parish priest, friend or parishioner. That’s why it’s so important to never be afraid to plant the seed starting at a young age.

To underscore the profound impact that a religious vocation can make in the lives of those they serve, consider a recent tweet from a Dominican friar serving in Indiana:

“Yesterday, I anointed someone dying from COVID-19. His sheer joy when he recognized my voice was one of the most beautiful and powerful experiences of faith in my life. ‘Father, I’m so glad you’re here. Now I can go in peace.’ This is the power of the sacraments and why I’m a priest.”

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